Beautiful Messengers

Tim Savage

Scripture

"But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, "How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!" (Romans 10:14-15)

Observation

I love the simplicity of this passage, if we want to see others come to know our Lord and Savior, then we need to be telling them His story. We can't just say that we hope our friends, family and neighbors start a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ. Who would initiate that conversation, explain what it means and answer their questions? It has to be us.

I love film and video (that's my thing!), not just as an art form or for it's technical intricacies and gymnastics, but also because it gives us the opportunity to tell Christ's story in powerful and meaningful ways. We can produce something that will be seen by many people and help move them emotionally to a place where they are open to listening to a life-changing and soul-saving message.

When I've had the opportunity to be out in the community with Pastor Wayne, especially on the neighbor islands, I've been amazed at the number of people who come up and tell him that they watch him on television. They even remember the day and time that it's on! I think God wanted me to hear those things as an encouragement. We have so many coming in person on the weekends, but I wonder just how many more are watching the TV, radio or internet broadcasts.

Multimedia isn't just a fancy add-on to our services, it's a powerful tool for reaching those that may never walk through the church doors. For every person who tells us they watch on-line or on TV, there are thousands of others who may never say anything, but they're watching.

Application

There are some basic and important lessons to remember as we strive to create creative and relevant messages. We need to keep our shoulders to the plow, stay focused on the goal and work hard. Excellence demands time and effort and we can't shortcut the process. We've got to pursue creativity and not retreat to the rut of formulaic solutions. We have to be resourceful because we may not always have everything we desire to get a job done, but God provides.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for showing me the impact of our work on outside of the church. Help me to not just personally remember them, but also to shout it from the mountaintops so that those that I serve with will also know the impact they make. Grant me continued strength and courage so that the work is fresh and powerful.